Despite the return of No. 1 player Nessrine Ariffin, the Bates women’s squash team fell to ninth-ranked Brown University on Sunday by a score of 7-2.
Ariffin, an All-America selection in 2012, completed her first full match since November 30th against Tufts. Although she dropped the first game 8-11, the sophomore roared back to take the next three 11-7, 11-5, 14-12.
Senior captain Cheri-Ann Parris, playing at No. 2, also won her match. Parris, who had been playing at No. 1 in Ariffin’s absence, won a thrilling five-set match by a score of 9-11, 11-6, 7-11, 16-14, 11-7.
The rest of the match, however, did not go the Lady Cats’ way. Sophomore Myriam Kelly came the closest to taking a win, but dropped a tough five-set match after coming back from a 2-0 deficit.
Sophomore Chloe Mitchell was the only other Bobcat to win a set in the match, as she lost an 11-8, 11-7, 5-11, 11-5 match at the No. 4 spot.
Next up for Bates women are the NESCAC Championships, which take place this weekend and are hosted by Trinity and Wesleyan. The Bobcats have yet to find out their opponent.
